Mail-sack catching and delivering mechanism



(No Model 4 SheetsSheet 1.

M. D. CUMMINGS.

MAIL SACK GATGHING AND DELIVERING MECHANISM. No. 568,747. Patented Oct. 6, 1896.

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4 Sheets-Sheet- 3.

(No Model.)

M. D. CUMMINGS, MAIL SACK GATGHING AND DELIVERING MECHANISM. No 568,747.

Patented Oct. 6, 1896.

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No. 568,747. Patented 001;. 6,1896.

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MONTROVILL D. CUMMINGS, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO.

MAIL-SACK CATCHING AND DELIVERING MECHANISM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 568,747, dated October 6, 1896.

Application filed August 22, 1895. Serial No. 560,108. (No model.)

To all whom it 7)t:L]/ concern.-

Be it known that I, MONTROVILL D. CUM- MINGS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Columbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Mail-Sack Catching and Delivering Mechanisms, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the improvement of mail-sack catching and delivering mechanisms of that class which are employed where naling the car-crane standard.

mail is received by and discharged from a moving train; and the ob j ects of my invent-ion are to provide a simple and effective mechanism of this class of superior construction and arrangement of parts by means of which mailsacks may be delivered and caught in a safe and convenient manner, and to produce other improvements the details of construction of which will be more fully pointed out hereinafter. These objects I accomplish in the manner illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a partial transverse section of a car having my improvement thereon and showing adjacent thereto my improved mailcrane in elevation. Fig. 2 is a detail view in perspective illustrating the manner of jour- Fig. 3 isa detail view in perspective of one of the trackway crane-arm ends. Fig.4is aview in perspective of the inner side of a mail-car, showing the position of the car-crane when not in use. Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the position of the car-crane parts when the same is ready for swinging outward through the doorway. Fig. 6 is a plan view of the car and track cranes. Fig. '7 is a view in elevation of the sack-receiving yoke. Fig. 8 is a sectional View on line 00 w of Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is an enlarged sectional view on line y y of Fig. 7. Fig. 10 is a view in elevation of the receiving-yoke and its supporting-arm, and Fig. 11 is a central vertical section of the trackcrane.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

In carrying out my invention I employ adja'cent to a railway-track a crane-standard l, the latter consisting of upper and lower sections 2 and The lower and tubular section of this standard is preferably provided with a suitable enlarged base 4:, while over the upper end of said standard-section 3 fits loosely a cap 5, the latter being provided with a central opening in its upper side and a short vertical upwardIy-extending neck 6 about said opening.

7 represents a collar which is provided with a flanged upper portion, said collar being secured, as indicated, about the tubular section 3 at a pointbelow the cap 5. The flanged upper portion of the collar 7 has its periphery provided with ratchet-teeth, as indicated at S. The lower portion of the upper and smaller standard-section 2 extends into the section 3, passing through the opening of the cap 5 and its neck portion 6, to which said section 2 is secured. The inner end portion of the section 2 also passes loosely through an internal collar or washer 9, which fits within the section 3 and which is provided with a circumferential groove or keyway 10.

11 represents a set-screw which, as shown, is adapted to be supported adj ustably in the wall of the section 3 and the inner end of which is adapted to bear in the groove 10 of the internal collar 9.

12 represents a coiled spring which loosely surrounds that portion of the standard-section 2 which is within the section 3, said spring having its upper end connected, as indicated at 13, with the cap 5, and having its lower end connected with the internal collar 9.

14 represents a tubular arm the inner bifurcated end portion of which is pivotally connected with opposite sides of the capneck 6. As indicated in the drawings, this tubular arm 14 consists of an external tube portion 15, within which is rotatablyinclosed 21 represents a substantially U-shaped catch or yoke, the ends of which are preferably made to flare outwardly, as shown, one of the side arms of this yoke being connected with the forward end of the tubular arm 14, while the lockingrod 17 passes loosely through said yoke-arm. This yoke 21 is adapted to be supported in the horizontal position shown in the drawings by moving the sliding keeper 18 outward until its lips embrace, as indicated, the upper and lower sides of the inner arm of the yoke. The under side of the external tube is provided, as indicated at 22, with a short downwardlyprojecting blade or teeth, which, when said arm is dropped downward, as indicated more clearly in Fig. 11, is adapted to engage with the ratchet-teeth of the collar 7, and thereby prevent a backward rotation of said arm. With the outer end portion of the tooth 22 is loosely connected the upper end of a bracerod 25.

26 represents the upper crane-arm, the rear end portion of which is bifurcated, said bifurcated portion being bent upward and thence outward, as indicated at 27. This bifurcated portion of the arm 26 is pivoted at 28 to the upper portion of the standard-section 2, while the rearwardly-extending members of said arm have connected therewith the upper ends of springrods 29. The lower ends of these spring-rods are, as indicated, pivotally connected with opposite sides of the rear portion of the lower crane-arm 14, said springrods being of such length as to result in their bowin g rcarwardly when the upper and lower crane-arms are supported in a horizontal position, as indicated in Fig. 1 of the drawings. The outer end of the upper crane-arm 2G is provided with a swivel-pin 30, while a similar pin 30 is provided on the outer side of the yoke 21.

31 represents a portion of a mail-car, said car being provided with a doorway 32, the latter being adapted to be closed by a sliding door 33. Above the doorway and extending to one side thereof I provide an angular guide-bar 34, behind the downturned face of which is adapted to slide the upper portion of the car-door. From this guide-bar 34, and 011 each side of the center of the width of the doorway, project two lugs 35, the outer end portions of which are provided with openings through which are adapted to pass the vertical arms of a staple 36.

011 the car-floor and in front of the doorway I secure a flat guide-bar 37, the latter being provided at points vertically beneath the pairs of lugs 35 with sockets 38. In constructing my improved car-sack crane I provide a vertical rod 89, the latter having a crankshaped termination at each end. The upwardly-turned end portion of the uppercrank 40 is adapted to pass loosely between the lugs of one of the pairs 35, while said upturned crank portion is provided with a collar 41, which is adapted by contact with the under sides of said lugs to limit the upward movement of the crank. That portion of the crank which is thus inserted between said lugs is, as shown in the drawings, in rear of the staple 36, the latter thus serving to prevent any outward movement of the crank. The downturned end portion of the lower crank 40 is, as indicated, adapted to be journaled in that socket 338 which is vertically below the bearin g of the upper crank termination. The vertical portion of the rod 3%) is loosely inclosed bya tubular casing 42. Surrounding the upper portion of the casing 42 is a sleeve 43, from which projects at right angles therewith the upper crane-arm 44. In order to retain the sleeve 43 in desirable frictional contact with the casing 42, I provide set-screws 45, which pass through said sleeve-wall and are adapted to bear against said casing. About the inner end portion of the arm 44 I provide a split sleeve 46, the latter being provided with outwardly-projecting lips which are adjustably connected by bolts in the usual manner. From this sleeve 46 extends outward a catch-arm, the latter being preferably of the substantially S shape shown and extending in a direction inclined from the direction of the arm 44, thus forming an acute angle between said arms. The catch-arm. 57 is provided in its outer end portion with a spring-strip 58, one end of which is secured to said arm. The outer end of the arm 44 has swiveled therein an outwardly-projecting sack-holdin g pin 5!].

(30 represents the lower car-crane arm, the inner end of which is jointedly connected at (51 with the lower end portion of the tubular casing 42. This arm is also provided in its outer end with a swivel saclcholding pin 62, and said arm 60 is normally retained in a slightly-depressed position by means of a spring-strip 63, one end of which is secured to said arm and the remaining end of which is secured to the casing 42.

\Vhen the cancrane is not in use, it maybe turned to the position indicated in Fig. 4 of the drawings, that is, with the arms 44 and 60 against the inner side of the car-door, the vertical rod 39 being thus thrown to a position within the car and adjacent to one side of the doorway thereof. When it is desired to put said caacrane into use, the arms thereof may be turned to the position indicated in F ig. 5 of the drawings, that is, so that they project inwardly at right angles with the car side, after which the arm 57 may be turned upward to the substantially horizontal position indicated. This being accomplished the sack, which is indicated in dotted lines in Figs. 4 and l of the drawings, may have its ends engaged, respectively, with the upper and lower supporting-pins 59 and 62, said sack thus being suspended between the outer end portions of the crane-arms. The door being opened the crane-standard 39 may be so rotated as to bring its body on the outer side of the car-doorway to the position indicated in Fig. 1. In this manner it will be observed that the sack-supporting arms of ing swung inward to the position indicated the car-crane will be made to suspend the sack in a vertical position on the outer side of the car, while the spring-strip 58 of the arm 57 will come into contact with the inner side of the car adjacent to the doorway, as shown in Fig. 6,'thus limiting the outward movement of the car-crane and providing a cushion-bearing for said crane against the car.

In order to illustrate the manner of catching and delivering mail-sacks by the mechanism herein described, we will assume that the sack to be caught by the car, and which is indicated in dotted lines at 65, is suspended between the supporting-pins of the upper and lower arms 26 and 14 of the track-crane. This connection of said arms must result, as will readily be seen, in bringing the latter to a substantially horizontal position and in bowing the spring-rods 29 outward. By thus suspending the sack between two spring-actuated arms it will be seen that a sufficient upward and downward strain will be had on the ends of said sack to hold the latter again st displacement by high winds or similar causes. The track-crane arms being in the position described the locking-rod 17 of the arm 14 is pressed within the tube 16 and the yoke 21 is retained by the keeper 18 in a horizontal position with its mouth in the direction from which the train approaches. When the swiftlymoving train reaches the trackcrane, the sack to be delivered, and which is indicated in dotted lines at 67, has its central portion caught within the yoke 21, and the force of the blow thus imparted to said yoke must result, as will readily be seen, in imparting a rotary motion to the standard-section 2. The centrifugal force thus imparted to the lower arm 14 results in the locking-rod 17 being thrown outward between the side arms of the yoke and in the sack being thus locked within said yoke. It is evident that the rotary movement of the arm 14 will result in a disengagement of the brace 25 with the collar 7, and that when such rotary force is sufficiently spent the straightening of the spring-rods 29 will serve to drop the arm 14 downward and raise the arm 26 upward to the position indicated in Fig. 11. This downward dropping movement of the arm 14 results in the engagement of the tooth 22 with the ratchetteeth otthe collar 7, thereby preventing any backward rotation of said arm.

The rotary movement imparted to the standard-section 2 above described must result, as will readily be seen, in a winding of the spring 12, the latter thus serving to gradually decrease the momentum imparted by the force of the blow of the sack against the yoke.

Simultaneously with the delivery above described of the sack 67 the central portion of the sack is caught in the angle between the arms 44 and 57 of the car-crane, and the force of the blow thus imparted to the arm 57 and the consequent rebound of the sack against the arm 44 results in the car-crane bein Fig. 4 of the drawings. In this manner it will be seen that the operations of catching and delivering mail-sacks at a station may be accomplished simultaneously, and that safe, reliable, and at the same time comparatively simple means are employed in accomplishing this object.

In case it is desired to change the position of the car-crane so that its arms, when projected from the car, will extend in the direction in which the car is moving it is evident that the crank-bearings of the standard 39 may be readily changed to the remainingpair of lugs 35 and socket 38, thus reversing the position of said crane. In order to reverse the position of the sack-catching yoke of the track-crane, the keeperor catch-sleeve 18 may be forced inward until the yoke is disengaged therefrom, thus admitting of the yoke being reversed, after which said keeper may be reengaged therewith.

In case it is desired to hold the crane-arms 14 and 26 in horizontal or substantially horizontal positions when said arms are not connected by a sack the lower and free end of the brace-arm 25 may be made to engage with the upper side of the collar 7, said brace thus acting as a prop to retain said crane-arms in the desired positions. It is obvious that this brace will be of great utility when it is simply desired to support the arms in position for catching a sack or when it is desired to hold them in a convenient position for attaching or suspending asack between them.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a mail-sack catching and delivering mechanism the combination with the standard 1 formed of two sections, one of said sections being rotatively supported by the other and a coil-spring the respective ends of which are connected with the upper and lower standardsections, of sack-supporting arms fulcrumed to said rotating standard-section, said sacksupporting arms having their rear portions connected by spring-rods,substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. In a mail-sack catching and delivering mechanism the combination with the trackcrane standard consisting as described of upper and lower sections, said upper section being journaled in said lower section, a collar 7 surrounding said lower section and a coilspring connecting said upper and lower sections as described, of upper and lower sacksupporting arms fulcrumed to said upper section, a spring-rod connection between the rear portions of said crane-arms and a brace having a pivotal connection with said lower cranearm and adapted to bear upon the collar 7,

substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. In a mail-sack catching and delivering mechanism the combination with the trackcrane standard consisting of upper and lower sections, said upper section being adapted to rotate within said lower section and having a spring connection therewith as described and a collar 7 on said lower section, the latter having a toothed periphery, of crane-arms 26 and 14 fulerumed to said rotating standardsection, a spring-rod connection as described between said crane-arms, and a projecting tooth formed on the lower side of said arm 1'11, said tooth being adapted to drop into engagement with the ratchet-teeth of said collar when said arm is dropped downward substantially as and for the purpose specified.

4. In a mail-sack catching and delivering mechanism the combination with a crane standard and arms fulcrumed thereto, a substantially U -shaped sack-yoke pivotally connected with the outer end of one of said arms and a locking-pin loose in said arm, said pin adapted by the centrifugal motion of said arm to be thrown out across said yoke substantially as and for the purpose specified.

5. I11 a mail-sack catching and delivering mechanism the combination with a trackstandard, an upper arm 26 fulcrumed to said standard and adapted to engage the upper end of a sack, of a lower tubular arm 14: having its rear portion fulcrumed to said standard, a rotatable tube 16 within said arm 14, a sliding pin 17 within said tube 16, a substantially U-shaped yoke 21 supported from the outer end of said tube 16 and means for rotating said yoke to a horizontal position said rod 17 adapted to pass through and across said yoke substantially as and for the purpose specified.

6. In a mail-sack catching and delivering mechanism the combination with a car having a doorway therein, of a car-erane standard 39 having crank-shaped terminations, said crank terminations detachably journaled above and below said ear-door, arms 44: and 60 extending from said standard 39, means for suspending a sack between said arms and an inclined arm 57 extending from the rear portion of said arm 44 as described, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

7. In a mail-sack catching and delivering mechanism the combination with a car having a doorway therein, a car-crane standard 39 having crank-shaped terminations, said cranks having bearings above and below said car-doorway and a casing i2 surrounding said standard 39, of an arm 44 extending from the upper portion of said casing L2 and ad- 3' ustably connectedtherewith, a catching-arm 57 extending at an incline from said arm 4t and a normally-depressed arm 00 extending from the lower portion of said casing 42, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

MON"ROVILL D. CUMMINGS.

In presence of- O. C. SHEPHERD, H. B. BRADSHAW. 

